Everyone’s been going Klon crazy the last few months, haven’t they?
It all kicked off just before Christmas, when Behringer announced their rather cheeky take on the legendary Klon Centaur. The pedal community was caught off guard—not just by the surprise drop of this vintage-inspired reissue, but by Behringer’s brazen use of the Centaur name and even the little horse-man graphic. Naturally, a hotly anticipated and affordable pedal like this had to make its way onto the channel.
And with that, the hype train left the station.
A Scarcity-Fuelled Frenzy
Behringer’s distribution wasn’t exactly stellar worldwide. Stock was limited in many countries, and delays only added fuel to the fire. Scarcity kept the buzz going well into the new year—long after the initial release.
Then, just as things were starting to cool down... Bill happened.
That’s Bill Finnegan—the man behind the original Klon circuit. He reportedly began legal proceedings against Behringer for copyright infringement, citing their use of the Centaur name and artwork. Whether it was a principled stand or just a frustrated move to protect his legacy, it had an unexpected side effect:
People started talking about the Behringer pedal all over again.
The Aftermath
If there’s one thing guitar players love more than a great-sounding pedal, it’s a hard-to-get one. It’s the same reason the original Klon Centaur now fetches over £5,000 on the used market. That elusive status gives gear a mythic glow.
In Behringer’s case, the legal action forced them to change both the name and the artwork. Suddenly, those early ‘pre-lawsuit’ models became collector’s items. Listings started popping up on eBay for five times the original price—overnight.
So, did Bill’s plan backfire? Maybe. But Behringer did stop using the IP, so I guess he got what he wanted in the end.
But... Is the Pedal Any Good?
Honestly? Yeah, it’s a decent take on the Klon circuit.
To my ears, it leans a bit more mid-heavy than the original (which, yes, I once played through headphones at FX Expo—of course I remember what it sounded like). But overall, it’s a nice-sounding overdrive. Not the holy grail, but definitely solid for the price.
My advice? Please don’t pay through the nose for one of those ‘pre-lawsuit’ models. Just grab the Centara—it’s exactly the same circuit, minus the myth.
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